Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 25 Feb 1997

Vol. 475 No. 4

Written Answers. - Residential Leases.

Michael McDowell

Question:

230 Mr. M. McDowell asked the Minister for Justice the number of occasions that the working party on landlord and tenant law has met to discuss residential leases in the past year; the dates on which it has met; the progress, if any, made by the working party in formulating proposals to change the law on tenants' residential accommodation; and if she will make a statement on the proposals, if any, she has in respect of the protection of long-term tenants from arbitrary eviction in order to void the existing 20 year rule and on all aspects of the matter. [4864/97]

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Owen)

I presume that the question is referring to the working group on security of tenure. The working group met on the following dates during 1996: 27 February, 12 March, 22 March, 19 April, 30 April, 5 June, 13 June, 28 June and 4 July — a total of nine meetings.

The working group submitted proposals to me addressing the issue of the 20 year rule. Examination of these is close to being finalised in my Department at present with a view to my submitting the proposals together with my recommendations to Government as soon as possible.